The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-05-14

This is insured by moisture and an
even temperature. An arrest of growth
caused by lack of moisture or an ex-
cess of heat Injuries the quality and
lessons the yield of potatoes. The
quicker crop of potatoes is raised the
better will the quality be likely to be
and the larger the yield, The largest
crops of potatoes are raised when the
growing season is quite short or when
the climate is cool aud moist from the
time of planting to that OF harvesting.
For producing crop for the market
late varieties of potatoes are generally
more profitable than early ones. Not
many years ago, early potatoes raised
in the North brought good prices. But
such is not now the case. Every city
market is supplied with potatoes raised
in the South long before those raised
here are in a condition to dig. Early
potatoes have ceased to rank as luXu-
ries several weeks before any raised in
the North are at a size to harvest, and
their price has fallen. Early potatoes
can not be depended on to keepin good
condition during the winter, and they
are not wanted in the spring except for
planting. Potatoes that ripcn in Octo-
Der, if properly taken care of during
the winter, will be in excellent condi-
ton in the spring. They can then be
sent to market, and will ordinarily
bring good prices. Every farmer
should raise some early potatoes for his
own use, and he may find it profitable
to raise some to sell in towns not sup
piled with those produced in the South.
The main crop, however, should be Of
the late varieties, which are as a rule
much the most productive. The gario-
ties that give the largest yield are those
that continue to produce tubers till
quite late in the summer
Observations in most parts of the
country show that what is called "new
land'-that which has not been
cropped many years-is best for pro-
ducing potatoes. They require consid-
cradle potash, in which old soils are
likely to be deficient. A stiff clay soil
is not suitable for producing potatoes,
though it may contain much potash.
1t is likely to be too compact to allow
the tubers to freely expand in it. II
becomes very hard in dry time and
sticky in the fall when the potatoes are
dug. Sandy soils, if well fertilized,
are good for producing early potatoes,
but large crops of late potatoes can moi
generally be raised on them if the sea-
son is dry. The quality of potatoes is
likely to be influenced by the character
of the soil in which they grow. Dry
mealy potatoes of sweet, nutty flavor
are not produced on moist land or or
that on which rank manure has beer
applied. They are only raised on sol
quite rich in potash and lime and which
owes its fertility chiefly to well-rottet
vegetable matter, like leaf mold. The
best fertilizers for land that is to be de
voted to potatoes are well-rotted stable
manure, forest leaves, bone meal anC
ashes. Rank manure is likely to pro
duce "scab" and to impart bad havo
to potatoes.
Clean culture is necessary to the pro
duction of large crops of potatoes, a
weeds and grass take nutriment from
the soil that should go to the potat,
plants. Clean culture will also rende
the harvesting of the crop an cas-,
matter There is no more disagreeabl
work on farm than digging and pick
ing up potatoes on land nearly covere,
with rank grass and weeds. Man
good tubers will be cut, bruised or los
if the land where the potatoes grow
covered with vegetation at the time c
harvest. The land, too, will be in ba
condition for crop the following yeal
If it is kept clean, however, it will b
In excellent condition for most an
kind of a crop. 1t may not be advis;
bic to use the plow OF cultivator hC
tween the rows of potatoes after tn
period of poisoning. which is abor
the time the tubers are formed, as the
should not be disturbed. 1t is bette
to use sharp hoe for scraping I'll
sides of the rows, and not to allow it
enter the soil to greater distance tina
, is required to kill the weeds. This
: the plan usually pursued in cultivatin
, sweet potatoes, and it works well wit
g common potatoes. Chicago Times.
1t is an error to suppose that sevel
winters are destructive to insect lif
According to Mr.. NcLachlan, an E
glish entomologist, Larvae may be frozC
> until as brittle as a rotton stick,
: | which condition thaV can Scarcely